Chabahar Port

December 5, 2017 3:52 pm

The first phase of India-Iran and Afghanistan trilateral project of setting up seaport at Chabahar on Iranian soil was formally launched by the Iranian President Mr Hassan Rouhani. On the occasion third shipload consignment of 15,000 tonnes of wheat anchored at the port.

Earlier India has sent 2 shipload wheat consignment to Afghanistan through Chabahar Port. So far Indo-Afghan trades were passing through the land territory of Pakistan. Now it is routed through Chabahar in less cost of transport and much saving in time.

The tripartite agreement between India-Iran and Afghanistan was signed in December 2016. India played major role in establishing ultra modern seaport at Chabahar with on investment of 500 million dollars.

The Chabahar port is located near the Gwador seaport of Pakistan established by China under the China-Pak economic corridor on land. It is a road project starting point of origin in China and the other terminal point in Gwador.

China wants to carry it trade to the west from Gwador that so far carried from long sea routes from Pacific and Indian Oceans. Now its trade will pass through Pakistan to Arabian Sea. The India aided port of Chabahar will curtail the transport cost of crude oil transportation from Iran to India.

Our 70 per cent of Indo-Iran trade are in crude oil. The other commodities that India export to Iran are rice, pulses and other edibles. Now the three nations do not need to pass through Pakistan.

Now the three nations are in direct trade route through Chabahar port. It is new strategic transit route between India-Iran and Afghanistan bypassing Pakistan. At the inaugural function the Iranian President Mr Rouhani said “the routes of the region should be connected on land, sea and air.

The port will give tremendous boost to the trade between the three nations. The Chabahar port is easily accessed from India’s Western cost and in considered as a “Gateway of Golden Opportunities” for trade with Central Asian countries.

It is very near to Kandla seaport. It is a boon the land locked country of Afghanistan as now it can skip Pakistan and further more now Afghanistan is very near to sea. The Chabahar is just 85 kilo meter from Gwador port of Pakistan.

The Chabahar seaport is like overshadow on Gwador. The China has set up Gwador and India established Chabahar as specimen in seaport building capacity and capability.

The China is setting up a seaport in Sri Lanka and its clarified to India that in Chinese Naval ships will be allowed there. India so far shipped 110,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan. Now both the nations have come much closer-thanks to Chabahar.